The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has instructed that each training institution should have only one intake a year for medical and health sciences programmes.
Prof. Mary Okwakol, the Executive Director NCHE said in a December 1 circular to university Vice Chancellors and principals of medical schools that this is to optimize the quality of graduates and address challenges faced by the government in handling the high number of students graduating from different institutions.
The decision according to Prof. Okwakol was reached at during the 73rd sitting of Council held on October 13 which “Council resolved that intake/admission of students to all medical-related programmes should be only once a year.
This followed claims by the education and health ministries on the high numbers of students during internship placements and its related challenges majorly attributed to two intakes a year by some institutions.
Ministry of health has on different occasions decried of inadequate numbers of supervising staff, limited facilities with requisite equipment to support student learning, and budgetary constraints are among the challenges faced.
Now, the NCHE says by halting dual admission of students, it will help to address these challenges. The council urges all higher education institutions to implement this decision for all medical and health-related programmes at their institutions.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to communicate the Council decision and urge all higher education institutions to implement the same for all medical and health-related programmes at your institutions,” read a circular in parts.
Education institutions such a as Kampala International University (KIU), King Ceaser University which have more than one intake a year have said they will engage with the Council regarding this directive.
